Z WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 



inexpensive, and is replacing to some extent those meat 

 dishes which are becoming costly. Originating in 

 Italy, its production is now practised extensively in 

 the United States, where about 100,000,000 Ibs. are 

 made annually from home-grown Durum wheat, a 

 quantity which supplies only about one-half the 

 demand. Vermicelli is a kindred production which is 

 becoming increasingly popular. A further important 

 class of foods are the " ready to eat" or " breakfast" 

 foods, which are manufactured in large quantities in 

 the United States. 



In addition to these products the wheat industry 

 furnishes many useful by-products, the chief of which 

 are bran, middlings, and sharps, the demand for which 

 is increasing as knowledge of their value as food for 

 stock is becoming more widely spread. Lastly, wheat 

 straw, the strongest of straws, is in general demand 

 for a variety of uses in most countries. 



It is thus apparent that the products and by- 

 products of the wheat industry are of far-reaching 

 importance to mankind. Their utility is enhanced 

 greatly by the variety of the methods of their con- 

 sumption, and it is certain that no other product is of 

 such vital importance for the sustenance of life. 



Statistics of consumption show not only that the 

 wheat product is consumed widely, but also that its 

 consumption per head is often very high.* Moreover, 

 there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion 

 that the consumption of wheat is increasing at a greater 

 rate than the population in most countries.! 



2, Consumption in New Zealand. 



In New Zealand the use of wheat is confined mainly 

 to the production of bread from flour. The more 

 importaftt by-products are also produced, while wheat 



*Bondlinger, "The Book of Wheat, " p. 302. 



tSee Webb's "Dictionary of Statistics," and "The Sta- 

 tistics of the International Bureau of Agriculture at Rome," 

 which is used extensively in this investigation. 



